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Originally Posted by SensualPoet
Amazon's Kindle DX is complete at $489 -- including 3G wireless. It has enough memory on board to do what it's designed to do.
Apple's iPad is $499 -- but the 3G model is $629. And that's the 16 GB onboard memory. The keyboard docking station is extra. Want more memory? If you are locally storing video, for example, you'll want the 32 or 64 GB models. Even if you don't want 3G with 64 GB ($829), the 3G itself isn't free. 500 MB costs $15/mth ... hardly enough for a video surfer but maybe enough for e-books; unlimited is $30/mth.
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Regarding 3G:
I don't give a crap about 3G, I'm always by WiFi pretty much, so I wouldn't get the 3G model. And I'll never have 3G or other cellular data plan period. Just no need for it as I'm so seldomly away from wifi when I need internet access.
It's a nice free bonus on my Kindle, but it's no big deal to drag books over via USB either. I'm always dragging and dropping files on to mp3 players, flash drives, external hard drives etc. so no biggie. The wifi played very little role in my decision to buy a K1.
Also, the Kindle 3G is gimped and pretty useless for anything but putting books on there. It's super slow and e-ink is worthless for the internet. So it's kind of silly to act like 3G on the Kindle is any great feature. It's convenient for getting books on the device, and that's it. And that's not a big deal since most people are used to dragging and dropping files via USB. Just a nice plus for the computer illiterate who want an e-reader I guess.
Regarding Memory:
16GB would be plenty of memory for what I'd use a tablet for--reading and marking up PDFs and word docs and books. Light web browsing etc. And the Kindles have even less memory (and other than K1 can't be expanded) so I'm not sure the point of that comparison.
I also see no use for a keyboard on a tablet. Just like the Keyboard on my Kindle is useless--I do all my shopping on a PC since the Kindle 3G and e-ink is painfully slow for browsing the store. I'll use a PC anytime I need to type something.
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And never mind critical day-to-day issues like 10 hr battery life vs 1 or 2 weeks; or the ability to enjoy the device outdoors in sunlight.
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As long as device lasts me a day of typical use, I couldn't care less about battery life. It can get plugged in every night or two just like my my cell phone. 10 hours would be fine for me.
I also don't read outdoors or in sunlight ever, so non-issue for me.
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So what Apple claims is a $10 difference ... is at least $140 more for the most basic 3G and nearly $200 more every year for basic wireless. Yes, of course, the device "does more" ... but at a starting price of 50% more in the first year.
It comes down to: Kindle 2 at $259; Kindle DX at $480 or Apple iPad 16 GB/500 MB 3G wireless monthly for $809 in the first year. Not everyone needs a Rolls.
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Again, the 3G on the Kindle is free--but completely useless for anything but getting books on there, so it's silly to compare. With paying for 3G on the iPad you get full internet access.
And again, you're assuming people even need it. The iPad isn't something like a phone that most people would always have with them. It would be like a laptop--only leave the home or office if you're going on a trip or to the coffee shop etc. where you'll have WiFi if you need it.
Anyway, I don't plan on buying an iPad--I need a tablet with robust stylus mark up options. But had to respond to your silly anti-Apple rant.
For me, it would be $499 vs. $489 for a DX as the wifi only 16gb model would fit all my needs--if it was stylus based.
I'd go for the iPad in a heart beat. I'm not that enamored with my Kindle as I'm not an avid reader. Thus it stays by the night stand and gets read a few nights a week.
I'd get a lot more use out of a multimedia tablet that I could use for my work reading and document markup, internet, video, games, etc. etc.
You are right that not everyone needs a Rolls, but I'll take the Rolls over the Pinto when the price difference is so negligible every day of the week.
Again, if someone's an avid and reads nothing but straight text, and reads for hours on end etc and wants a big screen, then sure something like the DX is probably up their alley. But that's no reason to go spew biased non-sense about the iPad and other tablets that fit other peoples needs much better.